U.S. patent application number 09/933933 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for visual display arrangement and method for ascertaining the local position of a visual display unit within a visual display arrangement having a multiplicity of visual display units.
Invention is credited to Hofmann, Franz, Jung, Stefan.
Application Number | 20020122012 09/933933 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7653545 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020122012 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hofmann, Franz ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Visual display arrangement and method for ascertaining the local
position of a visual display unit within a visual display
arrangement having a multiplicity of visual display units
Abstract
Visual display arrangement and method for ascertaining the local
position of a visual display unit within a visual display
arrangement having a multiplicity of visual display units. A visual
display arrangement has a multiplicity of visual display units
which have a respective control unit associated with them to
control them. In addition, a position-finding unit coupled to the
visual display units and/or to the control units is provided which
can be used to ascertain the local position of the visual display
units within the visual display arrangement.
Inventors: |
Hofmann, Franz; (Munchen,
DE) ; Jung, Stefan; (Munchen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Craig Gregersen
Briggs and Morgan, P.A.
W2200 First National Bank Building
St. Paul
MN
55101
US
|
Family ID: |
7653545 |
Appl. No.: |
09/933933 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/1.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1446
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/1.1 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 23, 2000 |
DE |
10041436.2 |
Claims
1. Visual display arrangement having a multiplicity of visual
display units, in which at least some of the visual display units
have a control unit for controlling the respective visual display
unit which is associated with it and is coupled to it, and in which
a position-finding unit coupled to the visual display units and/or
to the control units is provided which can be used to ascertain the
respective local position of the visual display units within the
visual display arrangement, having a memory which stores the
ascertained local positions of the visual display units.
2. Visual display arrangement according to claim 1, in which some
of the visual display units are in the form of liquid crystal
display units.
3. Visual display arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, in which
at least some of the visual display units are in the form of TFT
display units.
4. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, in
which at least some of the visual display units are in the form of
electronic-paper display units.
5. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, in
which at least some of the visual display units are in the form of
plasma display units.
6. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, in
which the control unit is a computer chip in each case.
7. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, in
which the control units are connected in series with one another on
the basis of a prescribed order.
8. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, in
which a respective control unit is provided for a respective visual
display unit and is associated therewith.
9. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, in
which the visual display units are arranged in matrix form in rows
and columns.
10. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9,
in which the control units are connected in series in matrix form
row by row or column by column.
11. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10,
in which the control units are coupled to one another by means of
two lines.
12. Visual display arrangement according to claim 11, in which the
two lines are formed by a two-wire line.
13. Visual display arrangement according claim 11 or 12, in which a
control unit is respectively coupled to the control unit which is
directly locally adjacent to it.
14. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13,
in which each control unit has an associated unique identifier and
is stored in a memory of the respective control unit.
15. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14,
in which each control unit has a switch which is arranged in the
visual display arrangement such that in a first switch position,
the respective control unit is coupled to a locally adjacent
control unit, in a second switch position, the respective control
unit is not coupled to an adjacent control unit.
16. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 12 to 15,
in which the lines, are coupled to one another via a local area
network.
17. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 16,
in which the position-finding unit is connected to the visual
display units by means of a radio link.
18. Visual display arrangement according to claim 17, having two
radio signal transmission/reception units for transmitting and
receiving radio signals, the radio signals being exchanged between
the position-finding unit and at least one visual display unit or a
control unit.
19. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 18,
in which the visual display units are mounted on an advertising
column.
20. Visual display arrangement according to one of claims 14 and 15
to 19, in which the position-finding unit is set up such that the
following steps can be carried out to ascertain the local position
of a visual display unit within the visual display arrangement: a
position-finding unit ascertains the identifiers uniquely
associated with the visual display units, the switches being in the
first switch position, the following method is carried out for each
visual display unit contained in the visual display arrangement:
the switch of the selected visual display arrangement is switched
to the second switch position, those visual display units which can
still be controlled in the series circuit are ascertained, the
statement indicating the visual display units which can still be
controlled is stored, the local position of a visual display unit
within the visual display arrangement is ascertained from the
stored statements.
21. Method for ascertaining the local position of a visual display
unit within a visual display arrangement having a multiplicity of
visual display units, having control units for controlling the
visual display unit, where the visual display units are coupled to
one another in series, where a switch is provided for each visual
display unit and can be used to couple the visual display units to
one another in a first switch position and not to couple the visual
display units to one another in a second switch position, and where
each visual display unit has an associated unique identifier, in
which a position-finding unit ascertains the identifiers uniquely
associated with the visual display units, the switches being in the
first switch position, in which the following method is carried out
for each visual display unit contained in the visual display
arrangement: the switch of the selected visual display arrangement
is switched to the second switch position, those visual display
units which can still be controlled in the series circuit are
ascertained, the statement indicating the visual display units
which can still be controlled is stored, in which the local
position of a visual display unit within the visual display
arrangement is ascertained from the stored statements.
22. Method according to claim 21, in which the visual display units
are controlled to display signals using their ascertained local
position.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a visual display arrangement and to
a method for ascertaining the local position of a visual display
unit within a visual display arrangement having a multiplicity of
visual display units.
[0002] Various visual display units, for example a liquid crystal
display unit and a thin-film transistor display unit (TFT display
unit), are known from [1].
[0003] In addition, "electronic-paper" display units, i.e.
electrophoretic display units, are known from [2], [3], [4], [5],
[6], [7] and [8].
[0004] The known visual display units are suitable for a large-area
visual display arrangement only to a limited degree. The known
visual display units normally have a maximum screen diagonal of
approximately 25 inches.
[0005] If a display is meant to have a much larger screen diagonal,
then, for a very high spatial resolution of the individual pixels
in the visual display unit, technological control of a very high
density of pixels using conductor tracks of appropriate length
would be necessary to control the individual pixels in the visual
display unit, which reduces the efficiency which can be achieved
for the respective visual display unit.
[0006] Even if such technology could be controlled, such a visual
display unit would be of very complex design and would thus be very
costly to manufacture.
[0007] [9] describes a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units in which the local position of
the individual visual display units within the visual display
arrangement is already known in advance. Received data to be
displayed on the visual display units are selected and are
transmitted to the appropriate visual display unit for display on
the basis of the co-ordinates already known in advance, i.e. on the
basis of the local positions.
[0008] [10] describes a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units in which a data stream for
respective data to be displayed actually contains information
regarding which of the visual display units is to have the
respective information displayed on it.
[0009] [11] describes a method for navigating in an interactive
system. In this method, at least one element linked to a node of a
presentation area in the interactive system is displayed On the
basis of a selection signal used to identify a selected
presentation area, a second node is determined and at least one
element linked to the second node is displayed.
[0010] [12] describes a visual multiple display having at least one
screen. The multiple display comprises a supporting column and a
display head arranged on the column.
[0011] The display head has a plurality of screens distributed
around the circumference for displaying pictures. The display head
can be raised and lowered.
[0012] The invention is thus based on the problem of specifying a
visual display arrangement having a very large picture format which
is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.
[0013] The invention is also based on the problem of easily
ascertaining, for a multiplicity of visual display units coupled to
one another, the local position of a visual display unit within the
visual display arrangement.
[0014] The problems are solved by the visual display arrangement,
and by the method for ascertaining the local position of a visual
display unit within a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units, having the features in
accordance with the independent patent claims.
[0015] A visual display arrangement has a multiplicity of visual
display units, at least some of the visual display units having a
control unit for controlling the respective visual display unit
which is associated with it and is coupled to it. In addition, a
position-finding unit coupled to the visual display units and/or to
the control units is provided which can be used to ascertain the
local position of the visual display units within the visual
display arrangement. The visual display arrangement also has a
memory which stores the ascertained local positions of the visual
display units.
[0016] Within the context of the invention, a visual display unit
may be, by way of example, a liquid crystal display unit, a
thin-film transistor display unit (TFT display unit), a plasma
display unit or else a visual display element called an
electronic-paper display unit, i.e. an electrophoretic display unit
as described in [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7] or [8], for
example.
[0017] Clearly, the invention can be seen in that a visual display
unit having a very large format can be subdivided into a
multiplicity of small and hence more cost-effective and simpler
visual display units which are coupled to one another in terms of
operation and can be controlled on the basis of the video sequences
to be displayed on the visual display units.
[0018] To make this possible, a position-finding unit is provided
which can ascertain the position of the visual display unit within
the respective visual display arrangement, which allows the
appropriate visual display units within the visual display
arrangement to be controlled selectively in order to display the
overall picture appropriately on the visual display units.
[0019] The visual display arrangement is also simplified and
rendered more cost-effective by virtue of a control unit being
provided for a respective visual display unit and being uniquely
associated with the respective visual display unit.
[0020] The respective control unit can have a memory which stores a
unique identifier, for example an individual bit sequence.
[0021] By way of example, the memory can be an EEPROM, an OTP
element (One Time Programmable Element) or a ROM.
[0022] The control unit can respectively be in the form of a
computer chip which is coupled to the respective visual display
unit and can also be arranged therein.
[0023] In accordance with one refinement of the invention, the
control units and/or the visual display units can be connected in
series, with the visual display units and/or the control units
being arranged, or connected in series, in matrix form, row by row
or column by column.
[0024] Arranging the elements row by row or column by column
results in a very regular and hence cost-effective visual display
arrangement.
[0025] To couple the individual control units to one another in
each case, lines, preferably two lines, can be provided, so that
the coupling is formed using a two-wire line, for example.
[0026] This allows a simple arrangement, which can, in principle,
be extended on any desired modular basis, of inherently simple and
hence cost-effective visual display units to form a large-area
visual display arrangement for which, in accordance with one
refinement of the invention, it is not even necessary to know the
local position within the visual display area arrangement at which
the appropriate visual display unit is arranged or is intended to
be arranged before the individual visual display units and the
corresponding control units are connected together.
[0027] This achieves considerable simplification and, associated
with this, a considerable cost saving, particularly if the visual
display arrangement is frequently disassembled and reassembled.
[0028] In accordance with another refinement of the invention, a
respective control unit is coupled to the control unit which is
directly locally adjacent to it.
[0029] Each control unit can have a switch which is arranged in the
visual display arrangement such that, in a first switch position of
the switch, the respective control unit can be coupled to a locally
adjacent control unit, and in a second switch position, the
respective control unit can be not coupled to the adjacent control
unit.
[0030] The lines can be coupled to one another via a local area
network, i.e. a LAN.
[0031] The position-finding unit can be coupled to the visual
display units by means of a radio link.
[0032] In accordance with another refinement of the invention, two
radio signal transmission/reception units for transmitting and
receiving radio signals are provided, so that the radio signals can
be exchanged between the position-finding unit and at least one
visual display unit or a control unit.
[0033] This makes possible a very simple visual display arrangement
having three-dimensionally distributed components, which,
particularly when electronic-paper visual display units are used on
large advertising displays, for example an advertising column,
allows the control or display of information, for example video
signals, to be transmitted to the respective visual display units
on the advertising display using a portable transmitter, for
example on or in a vehicle driving past the advertising column.
[0034] A method for ascertaining the local position of a visual
display unit within a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units, having control units for
controlling the visual display units, where the visual display
units are coupled to one another in series, where a switch is
provided for each visual display unit and can be used to couple the
visual display units to one another in a first switch position and
not to couple the visual display units to one another in a second
switch position, and where each visual display unit has an
associated unique identifier, has the following steps:
[0035] a position-finding unit ascertains the identifiers uniquely
associated with the visual display unit,
[0036] where the switches in the visual display arrangement are
switched to the first switch position during ascertainment,
[0037] so that all the visual display units in the visual display
arrangement can be addressed upon ascertainment,
[0038] so that all the identifiers of the visual display units
contained in the visual display arrangement can be ascertained by
the position-finding unit.
[0039] For each visual display unit contained in the visual display
arrangement, the respective switch of the selected visual display
unit is switched to the second switch position and those visual
display units which can still be controlled in the respective
series circuit when the switch has been switched to the second
switch position are ascertained.
[0040] The statement indicating the visual display units which can
still be controlled is stored in a memory of the position-finding
unit.
[0041] Clearly, the position-finding unit thus becomes able to
ascertain in each case the visual display units which are
respectively still contained in the series circuit.
[0042] In accordance with one refinement of the invention, the
respective identifiers are stored in the memory of the
position-finding unit with the respective statement indicating
which switch unit of which visual display unit has been put into
the second switch position.
[0043] If the information indicated above is implemented for each
visual display unit, i.e. for each switch in the visual display
arrangement, it is now a simple matter to determine the local
position of each visual display unit within the visual display
arrangement from the stored information, since, accordingly for the
visual display unit connected to an input of the visual display
arrangement, only the actual visual display unit whose switch has
been switched to the second switch position can be controlled.
[0044] The visual display unit coupled directly thereto is the one
in whose second switch position only the first visual display unit
and the selected visual display unit itself can be controlled.
[0045] The local positions of the other visual display units are
ascertained in a corresponding manner.
[0046] The method described above is carried out by the
position-finding unit set up as appropriate.
[0047] The method described above is distinguished by its
simplicity and universal applicability, which makes it possible to
reconnect the individual visual display units to one another
repeatedly in any desired arrangement.
[0048] The developments described above for the visual display
arrangement apply correspondingly to the method described
above.
[0049] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more
detail below and are shown in the figures, in which:
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units in accordance with a first
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0051] FIG. 2 shows a visual display control unit for a visual
display arrangement in accordance with the first exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
[0052] FIG. 3 shows a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units in accordance with a second
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a visual display control unit for the visual
display arrangement in accordance with the second exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
[0054] FIG. 5 shows a visual display arrangement having a
multiplicity of visual display units in accordance with a third
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0055] FIG. 6 shows a visual display control unit for the visual
display arrangement in accordance with the third exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
[0056] FIG. 7 shows a visual display controller for the visual
display unit in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of
the invention;
[0057] FIG. 8 shows another alternative visual display control unit
which can be used in all the visual display arrangements;
[0058] FIG. 9 shows a visual display control unit which can be used
in a visual display arrangement in accordance with the first
exemplary embodiment or in accordance with the second exemplary
embodiment.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a visual display arrangement 100 in accordance
with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0060] The visual display arrangement 100 has a multiplicity of
visual display units 101.
[0061] In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the visual
display unit 101 is a thin-film transistor display unit but may
alternatively be in the form of
[0062] an electronic-paper display unit, i.e. in the form of an
electrophoretic display unit,
[0063] a liquid crystal display unit, or
[0064] any desired customary screen.
[0065] Each visual display unit 101 has a visual display control
unit 102 which is uniquely associated with it and, in accordance
with this exemplary embodiment, is arranged underneath the
thin-film transistor chip such that it can control the respective
visual display unit to display video information (cf. FIG. 2).
[0066] The individual visual display units 101 are arranged in
matrix form in rows 104 and columns 105.
[0067] In addition, the visual display units 101 are connected to
one another in series, i.e. are linked to one another in series, by
means of two-wire lines 103, with the two-wire lines 103 being
contained in a respective visual display control unit 102. The
two-wire lines 103 pass through each visual display control unit
102 from a respective input 201 to an output 202 of the respective
visual display control unit 102.
[0068] In addition, the visual display arrangement 100 contains a
position-finding unit 106 which is coupled to a connection visual
display unit 101 at the start or end of the series circuit
comprising the visual display units 101.
[0069] In addition, there is a power supply unit 107 both with the
position-finding unit 106 and with the individual visual display
units 101 in order to operate them.
[0070] In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the
two-wire lines 103 are used both for the supply of power by the
power supply unit 107 and for transmitting the respective
information to be displayed.
[0071] In accordance with another method explained in detail, the
position-finding unit 106 ascertains the respective local position
of a visual display unit 101 within the visual display arrangement
100, and the local positions of the individual visual display units
101 are sent to the individual visual display units 101 on the
basis of the information to be displayed which is recorded by the
position-finding unit 106, with the appropriate visual display
units 101 displaying the relevant information which is to be
displayed.
[0072] The design of a visual display control unit 102 in
accordance with the first exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG.
2.
[0073] A bit sequence uniquely denoting the respective visual
display unit 101 is stored as an identifier in a memory 203 of the
visual display control unit 102.
[0074] In addition, a decoder 204 is provided in the visual display
control unit 102 in order to decode the information to be displayed
which is supplied to the respective visual display unit 101 by the
position-finding unit 106.
[0075] For communicating with the position-finding unit 106, the
respective visual display control unit 102 also contains a
communication unit 205 which is used for communicating, i.e. for
transmitting the information to be displayed from the
position-finding unit 106 to the respective visual display unit
101, on the basis of a prescribed communication protocol in a local
area network (LAN).
[0076] In addition, the two lines, i.e. the two-wire line 103, have
a switch 206 coupled to them such that, when the switch 206 is off,
no signals can be transmitted from the input 201 of the visual
display control unit 102 to the output 202 of the visual display
control unit 102, which is possible when the switch 206 is on,
however.
[0077] In addition, the visual display control unit 102 contains a
visual display unit control unit 207 for controlling the individual
visual display units 101 in order to display the information to be
displayed actually on the respective visual display unit 101.
[0078] The communication unit 205, the decoder 204, the memory 203
and the visual display unit control unit 207 are coupled to one
another by means of a computer bus 208.
[0079] The design of the visual display unit control unit 207 is
shown in FIG. 9, the respective visual display unit control unit
207 containing a decoder 901 for decoding the video information to
be displayed by the visual display unit 101.
[0080] In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, after the
individual visual display units 101 have been connected to one
another and to the position-finding unit 106, the respective local
position of the visual display units 101 within the visual display
arrangement 100 is still unknown.
[0081] To allow the individual display units 101 to be controlled
on an individual basis, it is necessary to determine the (relative)
local position of the respective visual display unit 101 within the
visual display arrangement 100.
[0082] In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the position
is determined in the manner below.
[0083] In a first step, all the switches 206 of the visual display
control units 102 are turned on, so that the position-finding unit
106 can ascertain the identifiers of the respective visual display
units 101, which identifiers are stored in the memory 203 thereof
and are still unknown to the position-finding unit 106 up to that
point.
[0084] The appropriate bit sequences are ascertained using the
communication unit 201, using a communication protocol which can be
prescribed as desired. Since the switches 206 of all the visual
display control units 102 are on, the position-finding unit 106 can
thus ascertain the identifier of each control unit 102.
[0085] The ascertained bit sequences are stored as an identifier
for the respective visual display control unit 102 in a memory (not
shown) of the position-finding unit 106.
[0086] Again using the communication protocol, the following method
is carried out for each of the stored identifiers, i.e. for all of
the visual display units 101 "registered" with the position-finding
unit 106:
[0087] The position-finding unit 106 selects a respective visual
display unit 101 and controls it such that the switch 206 of the
visual display control unit 102 of the selected visual display unit
101 is turned off, so that, from the point of view of the
position-finding unit 106, only all the visual display units 101
which are (still) contained in the series circuit for this switch
configuration, i.e. apart from the selected visual display unit
101, can be controlled.
[0088] The visual display units 101 connected locally downstream of
the selected visual display unit 101 can no longer be controlled by
the position-finding unit 106 on account of the series connection
between the visual display units 101.
[0089] If the respective switch 206 is off, then, in a further
step, the identifier is ascertained by each visual display unit 101
which can still be controlled by the position-finding unit 106 on
the basis of the current switch configuration.
[0090] The set of visual display units 101 which can still be
controlled are stored in the memory of the position-finding unit
106 together with the statement relating to the selected visual
display unit 101.
[0091] After all the visual display units 101 registered and stored
in the memory in accordance with the first step have been selected
and the method described above has been carried out for them, the
memory has n statements stored in it for n visual display units 101
in the visual display arrangement 100, the other visual display
units 101 which can still be controlled by the position-finding
unit 106 when the switch 206 is off being stored with each
statement for each respective visual display unit 101.
[0092] Once this information has been ascertained completely, i.e.
for all the visual display units 101 contained in the series
circuit, it is then possible to ascertain the actual physical
arrangement, i.e. the order of the series connection of the
individual visual display units 101 within the visual display
arrangement 100, since the first visual display unit 101 physically
connected directly to the position-finding unit 106 can be
identified by virtue of the fact that, when its switch 206 is
turned off, no further visual display unit 101 can be
controlled.
[0093] The visual display unit 101 additionally connected thereto
as a second visual display unit 101 is characterized and can be
ascertained by virtue of the fact that, when its switch 206 is off,
only the first visual display unit 101 can be controlled by the
position-finding unit 106.
[0094] The other visual display units 101 respectively connected in
series can now be ascertained in a corresponding manner.
[0095] In another step, the video signals to be displayed call now
be sent from the position-finding unit 106 to the respective visual
display units 101 on the basis of their local position within the
visual display arrangement 100 and can be displayed by said visual
display units.
[0096] It should be pointed out that the information to be
displayed can be compressed in any desired manner and can be
transmitted from the position finding unit 106 to the respective
visual display unit 106 using any desired communication
protocol.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0097] FIG. 3 shows a visual display arrangement 300 in accordance
with a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0098] The visual display arrangement 300 has a multiplicity of
visual display units 301 which are likewise connected, i.e. linked,
to one another in series.
[0099] Each visual display unit 301 again has an associated visual
display control unit 302, as is shown for the second exemplary
embodiment in FIG. 4 and is explained in more detail below.
[0100] The visual display unit 301, which is respectively in the
form of thin-film transistor chips, is arranged over the respective
visual display control unit 302, which is in the form of a silicon
chip.
[0101] The visual display control unit 302 is connected by means of
two respective lines 401, 402 to two metal planes (not shown) of
the chip arrangement, which metal planes are coupled to the power
supply 304 and to the position-finding unit 303 for the purposes of
power supply and signal transmission, i.e. for the purposes of
transmitting the information which is to be displayed.
[0102] The visual display units 301 are again arranged in rows 305
and columns 306 in the form of a matrix.
[0103] In accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, each
visual display control unit 302 likewise has a memory 403 for
storing the individual identifier of the visual display unit 301,
and also a decoder 404, a visual display unit control unit 405 and
a communication unit 406, which units are coupled to one another by
means of a bus 407 with the communication unit 306 also being
coupled to the two lines 401, 402.
[0104] The design of the visual display unit control unit 405 in
accordance with the second exemplary embodiment corresponds to that
of the visual display unit control unit 207 in accordance with the
first exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0105] Communication takes place, as in accordance with the first
exemplary embodiment, using the prescribed communication protocol
provided and implemented by the communication unit 406.
[0106] In accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, the
local position of the individual visual display units 101 within
the visual display arrangement 300 is actually stored at the start
in the position-finding unit 303, so that the position-finding unit
303 can control the individual visual display units 301 immediately
in order to display the video information which is to be
displayed.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0107] FIG. 5 shows a visual display arrangement 500 in accordance
with a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0108] The visual display arrangement 500 has a multiplicity of
visual display units 501 which are respectively in the form of a
thin-film transistor display unit.
[0109] Once again, each visual display unit 501 is provided with a
visual display control unit 502 for controlling the respective
visual display unit 501.
[0110] The design of the respective visual display control unit 502
is shown in FIG. 6.
[0111] The visual display units 501 are likewise arranged in matrix
form in rows 503 and columns 504. The visual display control units
502 are respectively coupled to a position-finding unit 506 by
means of a radio link 505, symbolized by an arrow 505 in FIG.
5.
[0112] In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, both the
position-finding unit 506 and the respective visual display units
506 (not shown) have a power supply 507.
[0113] As shown in FIG. 6, each visual display control unit 502
again has a memory 601 for storing the respective unique identifier
of the appropriate visual display unit 501 having the associated
visual display control unit 502, and also a decoder 602, a visual
display unit control unit 603 and a communication unit 604, which
are coupled to one another by means of a bus 605.
[0114] In addition, the communication unit 604 is coupled by means
of a line 606 to an antenna 607 which can be used to set up a
communication link as a radio link to the position-finding unit
604.
[0115] Hence, both the communication unit 604 and the
position-finding unit 506 have a radio signal transmission unit and
a radio signal receiver unit to allow communication between these
two units.
[0116] Again, at the start of display or control of the individual
visual display units 501 in order to display video information, the
position-finding unit 506 already knows the local position of the
respective visual display unit 501 within the visual display
arrangement 500.
[0117] In accordance with another refinement of the invention, the
visual display units 501 are not coupled to at power supply unit,
so that, in accordance with this refinement, the information to be
displayed is maintained without a power supply.
[0118] In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, power is
provided wirelessly via the radio link only in order to change the
information which is to be displayed.
[0119] In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the visual
display unit 501 provided is, in particular, an electronic-paper
display unit which is controlled by the position finding unit
506.
[0120] In addition, in accordance with another alternative
refinement of the third exemplary embodiment, not every visual
display control unit 502 has an antenna, but only one visual
display control unit 502 has an antenna 609 and the other visual
display, control units 502, in the first embodiment are
appropriately coupled to the visual display control, unit 502 which
has the antenna 607 by means of a two-wire line, so that
communication takes place via the visual display control unit 502
having the antenna 607, and the data are transmitted to the other
visual display units 501 via the two-wire line.
[0121] FIG. 7 shows the visual display unit control unit 603 in
accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the invention,
the visual display unit control unit 603 having a decoder 701 which
is coupled to the bus 605 by means of lines 702, 703.
[0122] FIG. 8 shows a symbolic illustration of the respective
visual display unit 101, 301, 501, in accordance with one of the
exemplary embodiments illustrated above, having a visual display
control unit 102, 302, 502 respectively arranged underneath the
visual display unit 101, 301, 501.
[0123] The following publications are cited in this document:
[0124] [1] S. Sherr, Applications for Electronic
Displays--Technologies and Requirements, John Wiley & Sons,
1998
[0125] [2] U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,026
[0126] [3] U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,584
[0127] [4] U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,854
[0128] [5] U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,098
[0129] [6] U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,291
[0130] [7] U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,186
[0131] [8] U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,545
[0132] [9] U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,035
[0133] [10] U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,376
[0134] [11] U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,596
[0135] [12] DE 196 06 227
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